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THE ASSOCIATION OF ACCOUNTING TECHNICIANS OF SRI LANKA

INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION JULY 2012

(55) INFORMATION MANAGEMENT & APPLICATION IN BUSINESS

Time: 03 hours
Instructions to candidates: (1) (2) This paper consists of two (02) Sections A & B. Five (05) questions should be answered as follows: (3) (4) Question No.01 of Section A Any four (04) questions from Section B
No. of Pages : 06 No. of Questions : 07 28-07-2012 Afternoon [2.00 5.00]

Answers should be in one language, in the medium applied for, in the booklets provided. 100 Marks.

SECTION - A
Multiple Choice Questions Answer all questions of this Section 40 marks

01. Select from (1), (2), (3) and (4) the most correct answer to each of the following questions. Write the number of the selected answer in your answer booklet with the English letter assigned to the question.

(A)

The Data Processing Cycle has several steps. Some steps may contain subactivities as well. In which of the following steps in the Data Processing cycle does one come across the sub-activity Data Classification? (1) Output. (2) Input. (3) Process. (4) None of these.

(B)

Organisations rely on Good Information to make correct decisions. Which of the following can be considered as a Characteristic of Good Information? (1) (3) Confidential. Available to the Public. (2) (4) Complicated. Reliable.

(C)

Some organisations prefer to use ERP systems to facilitate their Information needs. ERP refers to an: (1) (3) Employee Record Program. Enterprise Related Process. (2) (4) Electronic Record Portal. Enterprise Resource Planning.

(D)

1024 Mega Bytes is equal to: (1) (3) 1 Tera Byte. 1 Giga Byte. (2) (4) 8,192 Mega Bits. 1 Kilo Byte.

(E)

The Apple iphone is an example for which of the following category of computing device? (1) (3) Tablet PC. Handheld Computer. (2) (4) Mini Computer. Micro Computer.

(F)

A digitizing tablet is an example for which of the following category of devices? (1) (3) Processing Device. Output Device. (2) (4) Input Device. Storage Device.

(G)

Special characters can be found at the bottom of cheques printed using a special Ink to enable easy sorting. Which of the following technology is used for this: (1) MICR. (2) OCR. (3) OMR. (4) Barcodes.

(H)

The above picture is an example for which of the following technologies? (1) (3) Smart Card. OCR Character. (2) (4) 2-Dimensional Barcode. Touch Pad.

(I)

BASIC, COBOL and FORTRAN are examples of: (1) (2) (3) (4) Operating Systems. Machine Languages. High Level Programming Languages. Low Level Programming Languages.

(J)

Which of the following is an example for a Personal Information Management Software used today? (1) (3) Microsoft Outlook. Microsoft Money. (2) (4) QuickBooks. Adobe Flash.

(K)

In Database Terminology, SQL stands for which of the following terms? (1) (3) Social Question Level. Specific Queue Loading. (2) (4) Structured Query Language. Special Quantity List.

(L)

Which of the following is not an example for a popular accounting software package? (1) eBay. (2) QuickBooks. (3) ACCPAC. (4) Peachtree.

(M)

Star Topology is an example for a: (1) (2) (3) (4) Architecture of a Computer Network. Security Protocol on the Internet. Search Engine. Computer Virus.

(N)

Select the correct e-mail address format out of the following: (1) (3) user@provider.domain provider.domain@user (2) (4) provider@user domain@user@provider

(O)

Phishing is an example for a form of: (1) (3) Securing Web Pages. Identity theft. (2) (4) Password Protection. Wireless Communication.

(P)

Which of the following types of Input Control are present in the International Standard Book Number (ISBN)? (1) (3) Batch Total. Input Mask. (2) (4) Control Total. Check Digit.

(Q)

In Information System Development, the scope of the project should be well defined, developed and verified. The document containing this information is better known as: (1) (3) Terms of Reference. Feasibility Study. (2) (4) Proforma Invoice. Business Plan.

(R)

Many students today maintain accounts at websites such as Facebook. Which of the following categories of websites belong to Facebook? (1) (3) Social Networking. Online Auction. (2) (4) Search Engine. Online File Sharing.

(S)

Many smart phones which have internet access today provide micro blogging facilities. An example for one such site is: (1) Twitter. (2) Amazon. (3) Yahoo. (4) YouTube.

(T)

When choosing a Digital Camera, an important feature is the maximum resolution of photographs. This is commonly measured in which of the following? (1) Megahertz. (2) Mega Bytes. (3) Mega Pixels. (4) Mega Bits.

(02 marks each, Total 40 marks)

SECTION - B
Answer any four (04) questions only from this Section 60 marks 02. (a) The Information Technology discipline consists of several sub-disciplines. List three(03) of them. (b) (03 marks)

Explain briefly the terms System, System Boundary and Sub System when considering an organisation as a system. (06 marks) (03 marks)

(c) (d)

List three(03) main activities of an information system. An Information System cannot exist without modern technology. Can you agree with this statement? Justify Your Answer.

(03 marks) (Total 15 marks)

03.

(a) (b)

List two(02) advantages of a Computer Based Information System.

(02 marks)

Information Systems can be divided into different categories based on the Management Level. Process Controlling Systems are one such category. List five(05) other such categories. (05 marks)

(c) (d)

Explain briefly the task carried out by a Process Controlling System. (04 marks) Semi Manual Information Systems are still being used by certain organisations. Explain the term Semi Manual Information System, and briefly explain the reasons behind their use even today. (04 marks) (Total 15 marks)

04.

(a)

Automatic data input methods are being increasingly used in many organisations. List two(02) advantages and one(01) limitation of using such input methods. (03 marks)

(b)

The evolution of the Computer can be separated into five(05) generations. Explain briefly features of fifth generation Computers. (03 marks)

(c)

A student has defined a Computer as a programmable machine. Briefly explain the term programmable in the context of a computer. Suggest two(02) other terms which can make this definition more accurate, and justify your answer. (06 marks)

(d)

List three(03) advantages of using ERP Software.

(03 marks) (Total 15 marks)

05.

(a)

Briefly explain the difference between System Software and Application Software. (02 marks)

(b)

When purchasing a Branded Computer today, it is difficult to find one which has Windows 98 as its operating system. Can you agree with this statement? Justify your answer. (03 marks) (04 marks) (02 marks)

(c) (d) (e)

List four(04) components of an Operating System. Briefly explain the term Data Warehouse.

List four(04) Non Core Modules which can be part of an Accounting Package. (04 Marks) (Total 15 marks)

06.

(a) (b)

Explain the term Electronic Commerce.

(03 Marks)

Electronic commerce transactions can be categorised according to the parties that interact to complete the transactions. List four(04) categories in electronic commerce transactions. (04 marks) payments (03 marks)

(c)

Credit

Cards

are

one

popular

method

used

for

completing

electronically. List three(03) other alternatives for electronic payments.

(d)

Briefly explain the term Controls as described in Information System Security. (02 marks) When submitting sensitive financial or personal information, one needs to make sure the server uses SSL protocol. Explain briefly what is meant by SSL, and describe how we can identify this. (03 marks) (Total 15 marks)

(e)

07. (a)

A popular approach for developing Information Systems is to use the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Model. List the steps in the SDLC. (05 marks)

(b)

Testing an information system involves several different tasks to be carried out. List three(03) such tasks. (03 marks) List four(04) types of Natural Disasters that might affect the operations of Information Systems. (04 marks) Explain the purpose of a Disaster Recovery Plan. (03 marks) (Total 15 marks)

(c)

(d)

o0o 6